Program under development

Understanding Anti-Zionism Among Liberal Jewish Youth
 

A Research Initiative for Educational Strategy Development

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The Challenge

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Jewish institutions face an unprecedented crisis engaging young Jews around Israel and Zionism. Liberal Jewish educational settings—day schools, camps, campus organizations—report increasing numbers of participants who identify as anti-Zionist or remain conflicted about Israel's role in their Jewish lives.

Current institutional responses—from enforced silence to simplistic messaging—fail to match the depth and nuance of how young Jews actually think about these issues. Many arrive at their positions through careful consideration of Jewish ethics, historical awareness, and complex geopolitical realities.
 

The cost of this mismatch:

• Family ruptures over fundamental values and Jewish meaning

• Educators unable to speak authentically about central Jewish concerns

• Educational compromise when core issues become undiscussable

• Community confusion without strategic direction
   

Our Approach

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Rather than treating "anti-Zionist Jews" as a monolithic group, we recognize the complexity and diversity of positions. Our research identifies distinct categories—from ideologically committed activists to those conflicted between Jewish peoplehood and criticism of Zionism.

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The Project unfolds in three phases:

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Phase 1: Research & Mapping

Develop a comprehensive typology of anti-Zionist positions through interviews with self-identified activists, understanding their motivations, Jewish backgrounds, and relationship with community.

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Phase 2: Dialogue Strategies

Create frameworks for meaningful conversation based on shared values and common ground, moving beyond polarization toward nuanced engagement.

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Phase 3: Educational Innovation

Design new pedagogical approaches for teaching about Israel and Zionism through liberal Jewish peoplehood frameworks, empowering students to develop their own thoughtful positions.

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Expected Impact

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For Jewish Organizations: Tools to map the diverse perspectives within their communities and strategies for productive dialogue with critical voices.

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For Educators: Frameworks for authentic engagement with complex Israel-related questions without compromising educational integrity.

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For the Field: Strategic approaches that address root causes rather than symptoms, building capacity for the next generation to wrestle with challenging questions while maintaining Jewish connection.

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Moving Forward

This research addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing contemporary Jewish education—how to engage meaningfully with dissenting voices while preserving community cohesion and educational authenticity.

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Please contact us if your interested in learning more about this research initiative?